Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Lest people think I was being churlish. I also wish everybody a happy new year.

I acknowledge what was done in the budget and the previous one. I also acknowledge that there has been a reduction in the rate for those experiencing deprivation. Nevertheless, the figure for the number of children living in consistent poverty in 2014 was 12.7%, which figure was reduced to 11.5% in 2015 and 11.1% in 2016. If one does the figures, they show that 97% of the children who were living in consistent poverty in 2015 were also living in consistent poverty in 2016. In the same three-year period the at-risk-of-poverty rate fell from 20.3% to 19.5% and then to 19.3%. They show that 99% of the children who were at risk of poverty in 2015 were still at risk of poverty in 2016. Does the Minister agree that the substantial economic growth which we acknowledge has happened in recent years and the substantial reductions in the rate of unemployment are not yet being properly reflected in the statistics for children? Is she aware that approximately 70,000 more children are living in poverty than in 2008? Does the Government have specific proposals to ensure improvements in the economy will be translated into a substantial reduction in the incidence of child poverty?

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